CHONGQING
A City Built in Layers
Hillside streets, spicy hotpot, glowing skylines and everyday life unfolding between two rivers.
WHY CHONGQING
A city you have to
experience to understand.
Chongqing is loud, layered and full of surprises. Come for the famous night views and hotpot, then stay for the hillside neighborhoods, tiny noodle shops and wonderfully confusing streets.
3-4 DAYS
Ideal stay
MAR–MAY · SEP–NOV
Best time to visit
CITY · FOOD · LOCAL LIFE
Best for
The Vertical City
Ride the monorail, climb hillside streets and discover a city where ground level is never quite what it seems.
Chongqing after dark
See the rivers, bridges and glowing skyline transform the city after sunset.
Eat like a local
From bubbling hotpot to a simple bowl of xiaomian, food is part of everyday life here.
Beyond the city
Slow things down with dramatic landscapes and day trips beyond Chongqingu2019s urban maze.
START WITH AN IDEA
Four Days in Chongqing
A relaxed four-day journey through Chongqing’s iconic sights, hillside streets, local neighborhoods and riverside views.
Day 1 · Arrival & first impressions of Chongqing
Arrive in Chongqing → Hotel check-in → Liziba → Jiefangbei
Arrive in Chongqing and transfer to your hotel. After checking in and leaving your luggage, begin with an easy introduction to the city. See the famous monorail passing through a residential building at Liziba, then head to Jiefangbei to experience the lively heart of Chongqing.
Day 2 · Old Chongqing & the city after dark
Shancheng Trail → Shibati → Hongya Cave
Spend the day exploring Chongqing on foot. Walk along the Shancheng Trail through steep stairways, old neighborhoods and hillside streets, then continue to Shibati. As evening falls, head to Hongya Cave and watch the riverside city light up after dark.
Day 3 · History, old streets & the Yangtze River
Three Gorges Museum → Great Hall of the People → Huguang Guild Hall → Longmenhao Old Street
Start with the Three Gorges Museum and the Great Hall of the People to discover more about Chongqing’s history and culture. Later, visit the historic Huguang Guild Hall before crossing to the South Bank and wandering through Longmenhao Old Street, with beautiful views across the Yangtze River.
Day 4 · One last look at Chongqing
Xiahaoli Old Street → Departure
Enjoy a relaxed final morning at Xiahaoli Old Street. Wander through its hillside lanes, old houses and small local shops before returning to the hotel to collect your luggage and continue to the airport or railway station for your onward journey.
CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY
Where to Go After Chongqing
Chongqing can be a journey on its own — or the beginning of something bigger.
CHENGDU
CHENGDU
Pandas, teahouses & a slower rhythm
Chengdu feels like a natural next chapter after Chongqing. The two cities share a love of bold Sichuan flavors, but their personalities feel completely different.
After Chongqing’s steep streets, glowing skyline and constant movement, Chengdu invites you to slow down. Spend a morning seeing giant pandas, wander through leafy neighborhoods, sit in a traditional teahouse, and make time for a long Sichuan meal.
But some of the best moments here are wonderfully ordinary — watching locals play mahjong in the park, drinking tea under the trees or discovering a tiny restaurant down a side street.
2-4 DAYS
Ideal stay
Food · Pandas · Local life · Culture
Best for
ZHANGJIAJIE
From the vertical city to vertical mountains
From Chongqing’s vertical cityscape to Zhangjiajie’s towering sandstone peaks, this combination is all about dramatic landscapes.
In Zhangjiajie, the city disappears and nature takes over. Walk between extraordinary rock pillars, look out across misty mountain valleys and spend time on trails where every turn seems to reveal another impossible view.
You can experience the famous viewpoints, but we also recommend leaving enough time to slow down. Early mornings, quieter trails and moments away from the busiest areas can completely change the feeling of the mountains.
For travelers who want both big-city energy and spectacular nature, Chongqing and Zhangjiajie make a particularly memorable combination.
3-4 DAYS
Ideal stay
Nature · Hiking · Photography · Mountain scenery
Best for
ZHANGJIAJIE
GUIZHOU
GUIZHOU
Mountains & villages
If you’d like to travel somewhere a little less familiar, continue south from Chongqing into Guizhou.
Guiyang can be your starting point, but the real charm often lies beyond the city — among mountain landscapes, traditional villages, local markets and communities with their own distinctive cultures and food traditions.
Travel here tends to feel slower and more exploratory. One day might be about a dramatic landscape; another might simply mean wandering through a village, trying something new at a local market or sitting down for a meal you had never heard of before.
It’s a great choice for travelers who have already seen some of China’s famous cities and want to discover somewhere that feels different.
4-7 DAYS
Ideal stay
Local culture · Villages · Food · Nature · Slow travel
Best for